Rich Smith

Lecturer

Personal Information

Rich Smith is a Chico native who also attended CSU Chico. He graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in plant science.

After graduation he started working for Alcott Farms where he worked for 20 years as a field representative and kiwi manager. Alcott Farms at the time was the largest kiwi producer in California, producing 14 million trays. From Alcott Farms, Smith moved on to buying nuts for Dole, who had an almond plant in Orland, California. He bought nuts for them for ten years. Now he is buying nuts for River West, and for the last four years he has also been teaching in the CSU, Chico College of Agriculture.

Smith lives on five acres in Durham with his wife, Michelle, who raises emus. She also works in the Computer Science Department at CSU, Chico. The couple also has about 200 acres near Richvale that they lease out to grow rice.